Category Manager - Procurement

WA Consultants; Taunton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

WA Consultants is actively recruiting a Commercial Manager for a 6-month contract based in Taunton, UK. The role focuses on developing and delivering procurement strategies across key categories, with oversight on EU legislation, value for money, and probity.

You will engage stakeholders, provide strategic procurement advice, and lead end-to-end procurement processes to ensure contracts meet business needs while maintaining robust governance and risk oversight.

Qualifications

• MCIPS qualification is required.
• Experience leading a strategic procurement category.
• Ability to provide strategic advice and guidance on risk and compliance.
• Adaptability and lateral thinking.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Proven ability to drive value for stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Understand historic and future expenditure profiles in the category.
• Engage with stakeholders to understand business needs and jointly work up category strategies.
• Develop and deliver procurement and supply chain strategies.
• Support internal and external monitoring of supply chain relationships, ensuring efficiency and meeting organisational needs.
• Support end to end procurement process for a specific set of products and services within the categories ensuring the successful delivery of contracts that adhere to all relevant EU legislation's, value for money principles and commercial probity
• Ensure effective lines of communication with stakeholders to keep them appraised of relevant information and progress with projects
• Provision of analytical support to Head of Procurement and team members in support of strategy, the delivery of benefits, all relevant legislation and change management

Skills

Strategic category management

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical mindset

Adaptability

Value-focused thinking

Procurement experience

Risk assessment

Education

MCIPS qualification

Job description

WA Consultants is currently recruiting for a Commercial Manager for an initial 6-month contract position. Our client is looking for candidates to undertake the following:

Responsibilities:

• Understand historic and future expenditure profiles in the category
• Engage with stakeholders to understand business needs and jointly work up category strategies
• Develop and deliver procurement and supply chain strategies
• Supporting internal and external monitoring of supply chain relationships, ensuring that supply chains are as efficient as possible and meet the needs of the organisation
• Support end to end procurement process for a specific set of products and services within the categories ensuring the successful delivery of contracts that adhere to all relevant EU legislation's, value for money principles and commercial probity
• Ensure effective lines of communication with stakeholders to keep them appraised of relevant information and progress with projects
• Provision of analytical support to Head of Procurement and team members in support of strategy, the delivery of benefits, all relevant legislation and change management

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities:

• MCIPS Qualified
• Relevant Contract Management & Procurement experience at leading a strategic category
• The ability to provide strategic advice and guidance, understanding risk appetites and application of the relevant laws.
• Adaptable to change and the ability to think laterally.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience, specifically negotiating contracts with a wide range of suppliers.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrating proven ability to build trust and influence with across the organisation and with suppliers.
• The ability to demonstrate drive.
• Proven and demonstrable procurement experience within a similar organisation.
• Proven ability to focus on value for stakeholders.

Please note, this contract has been deemed by the client to fall inside of IR35.

For further information please contact Alex Wilson.

WA Consultants is an Employment Business and an Employment Agency as described within The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003.